Virginia State Standards

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Virginia Holocaust & Genocide Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes
  • Under **HB 916 (2020)**, the Virginia Department of Education must establish a **Holocaust & Genocide Education Advisory Committee** [oai_citation:0‡legacylis.virginia.gov](https://legacylis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB916=&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
  • Standards for teaching Holocaust and genocide integrated into the **Standards of Learning (SOL)**, with testing and professional development requirements

How the Holocaust Appears in Virginia’s Standards

  • Instruction imbedded in **history and social science SOL (2021–22 revision)** to include Holocaust and genocide content
  • Covers how hatred, dehumanization, prejudice, and discrimination escalated into genocide; includes study of Holocaust and other historical injustices

Oversight & Support

  • The **Advisory Committee** guides the VDOE on meaningful professional development and age-appropriate instruction
  • Virginia students are **tested** on Holocaust and genocide knowledge as part of the SOL assessment
  • Educators encouraged to partner with the **Virginia Holocaust Museum** (Richmond) and other local/national organizations for resources and field experiences

Teaching Notes for Virginia Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes – HB 916 (2020) adds Holocaust & genocide education to SOL
Included in CurriculumYes – embedded in revised History & Social Science SOL
Student AssessmentYes – included in SOL testing
Professional DevelopmentAdvisory Committee issues guidance to VDOE
Community ResourcesPartnerships with Virginia Holocaust Museum & other institutions

Conclusion

Virginia law requires Holocaust and genocide education through its Standards of Learning, supported by HB 916 (2020) which created an advisory committee. The updated SOL include content on the causes and consequences of genocide, with student testing and teacher training built in. Schools are encouraged to leverage museum partnerships and field-based learning to enrich instruction.

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Leslie Benitah is a journalist, filmmaker, and third-generation Holocaust survivor dedicated to preserving memory and com- bating historical denial through storytelling. Holding a PhD in Journalism from the Sorbonne, she began her career as a journalist, later becoming editor-in-chief, and eventually serving as Executive Producer for TF1, France’s leading network, where she helped shape primetime content for millions of viewers.

After moving to Miami in 2006, she ran a major French- language publication before returning to film, directing critically acclaimed documentaries and collaborating with top production companies for over 20 years.

Driven by activism and education, Leslie co-founded The Last Ones—a groundbreaking documentary series that has amassed millions of views across social media and is used as an official educational tool in schools worldwide. Featuring over 150 survivor testimonies filmed across multiple continents, The Last Ones bridges past and present, ensuring younger generations remain engaged with Holocaust history. Leslie frequently speaks in schools, advocating for education as the most powerful tool against misinformation and hate.